English leads FedEx St. Jude Classic by two over Stefani after second round

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Harris English leads the FedEx St. Jude Classic after carding an eagle, five birdies and a bogey on Friday.

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Teresa M. Walker

Associated Press

Series: PGA Tour

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Harris English is becoming more comfortable on the PGA Tour every week, and feels right at home on TPC Southwind's Bermuda grass greens. 

English shot a 6-under 64 on Friday to open a two-stroke lead in the FedEx St. Jude Classic. The 23-year-old former Georgia star had never even had a piece of a lead on the PGA Tour until Thursday when he found himself tied with five others, including Davis Love III, after 18 holes. 

He used a hot putter to roll in five birdie putts, holed out from 181 yards for eagle on the par-4 fifth and had only one bogey to finish the second round at 10-under 130. 

"It's awesome to be in this position," English said. "I've worked very hard the last couple weeks and couple months to get in this position, and I feel like I'm ready and I feel like I got a lot of good people around me to help me." 

Shawn Stefani was second after a 65. Paul Haley II and Scott Stallings each shot 68 to reach 5 under. Love was tied with four others at 4 under after a 70, and defending champion Dustin Johnson also had a 70 to finish at 3 under. Phil Mickelson was 2 under after a 67 in his final tuneup for the U.S. Open next week at Merion in Pennsylvania. 

Only four players had rounds of 4 under or better on a near perfect day at TPC Southwind. Doug Labelle II and Scott Verplank were the only other players to go at least 4 under with a 66 apiece. 

But English turned in the best round on a course playing very tough despite a temperature around 80 degrees -- very rare at this time of year in Memphis. Any wind came out of the north instead of the south, and hitting the greens required precise shots. Hitting the fairways also is a must to control shots to the greens. 

"Obviously, if he has another two days like the first two, it will be tough to catch him," Johnson said about English. "But I would say I look forward to being bunched throughout on Sunday coming down the stretch." 

This is English's second year on tour after finishing up his college career at Georgia in 2011. 

The 6-foot-3 English was still an amateur when he won on the Web.com Tour at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational in July 2011, and he moved to the PGA Tour in 2012 and finished 79th on the money list. This year, he already has three top-10s, including his best finish yet with a tie for sixth at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. 

Love has kept track of English for years. English lives in Sea Island, and Love isn't surprised by how well he is playing. 

"His game has really improved, and he's playing well and he's not afraid to shoot low scores," Love said. 

English opened with a 66 putting himself into the knot of players tied at 4 under atop the leaderboard after the first 18 holes. Teeing off Friday morning, English used his putter to start with three birdies in three holes, rolling in putts from 9, 10 and 17 feet. 

Then English had possibly the shot of the day on the par-4 No. 5 playing at 482 yards. After a 3-wood off the tee, he hit an 8-iron 181 yards from the fairway and watched the ball roll at least 10 feet before falling into the cup for eagle. 

"I haven't holed out in a while," English said. "To make it on 2, probably the hardest hole on the golf course, is kind of unbelievable." 

English dropped a 15-footer on the par-4 15th to become the first player here to reach double-digits under par, and he added a 10-footer on the par-5 16th after hitting his shot from the rough just in front of the green. That birdie put him 11 under. 

"I grew up on greens like this down in south Georgia, fast Bermuda greens," English said. "I'm very comfortable on these type of greens. I know when it's going to be fast, and it's really fast. And when into the green, it's really slow. I have a good handle on the speed. That's really what helped me today. When you get the speed down on the greens, you can start making some putts." 

English also is very familiar with Tennessee. He played at The Baylor School in Chattanooga, helping win four state titles including an individual high school championship for himself. He even won one of those titles at a course approximately an hour away. He also has friends currently in medical school here in Memphis that he has been visiting with the past couple days. 

"It does feel like home," English said. 

The only hiccup in English's round came on No. 18. He hit driver only twice Friday and stuck with his 3-wood off the tee only to hit what he called his only bad shot of the day. The ball stopped near a drain. He wound up with a 30-footer and two-putted for his lone bogey. 

"I'm still looking for my first win and still hungry to be the best and to try to get my first win," English said 

Notes: Guan Tianlang, the 14-year-old amateur from China who made the cut at the Masters, missed the cut. The cut came at 1-over 141, and he went 73-71-144. ... Brandt Snedeker (143) and D.A. Points (148) also missed the cut. Paul Goydos did too, but he did play Friday and shot a 72-145 after fearing he had re-injured his left wrist in the opening round. ... Ian Poulter took off his right sock and rolled his pant leg up to his knee with his ball resting just in the water fronting the par-4 12th green. He pitched the ball onto the green and then pointed at his white shirt, happy that none of the mud that went flying with his stroke hit him. He bogeyed the hole but was at 137. 

Mishael Miller's Star-Spangled Exit

Posted Dec 22, 2013

Ryan MinkBaltimoreRavens.com Staff Writer@Ravens All Ryan Mink Articles



The man who has sung the national anthem for 18 years will step down Sunday.



Growing up in Philadelphia, Mishael Miller had always dreamed about singing the national anthem before a sporting event. He would always watch intently before 76ers, Eagles and Phillies games.

The first time Miller stepped to the microphone to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Memorial Stadium, his palms perspired and his mind raced with thoughts of forgetting the words.

It was before the Ravens franchise’s inaugural game on Sept. 1, 1996.

“I was scared,” Miller said. “I just wanted to do it one time. I didn’t realize it would become a tradition.”

Miller has been singing the national anthem before Ravens games ever since. He’s become a beloved Baltimore institution.

But this Sunday, before the Ravens take on the New England Patriots, Miller will belt out his swan song.

Miller is moving to Birmingham, Ala., to become the senior pastor at the St. Luke A.M.E. Zion Church. The Ravens will have to find another singer.

“I wish I could bring the Ravens to Birmingham,” Miller said. “I’m going to miss the Ravens. They’ve been a part of my life for the last 18 years.”

Miller was born and groomed to sing. In third grade, a teacher encouraged him to take a test that sent him to a music school. Then he went to the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts in the mid ‘80s.

After hearing the famed Morgan State University Choir, he attended school there in the early ‘90s. The beautiful baritone studied opera and classical, but was more interested in the music of his roots – gospel.

While singing gospel is his passion, it’s more than just music. Miller started preaching when he was 19 years old and has always been involved in the church. After getting his music degree, he attended the Howard University School of Divinity, earning a master’s degree in 2006.

He’s long been the assistant pastor at The Pennsylvania Avenue A.M.E. Zion Church. He’s always rushed out after church to reach M&T Bank Stadium in time for 1 p.m. Sunday games.

It was Miller’s Morgan State connections that landed him with the Ravens. The Ravens had the school’s marching band to perform at the inaugural game, and asked the band director if he knew anyone that could sing the anthem. Miller was recommended.

Ravens Senior Vice President of Media and Community Relations Kevin Byrne was one of a few making the decision on who would sing the anthem. He remembers it being an easy decision.

Miller had local ties, and boy could he sing.

“I remember his powerful voice,” Byrne said. “And he seemed to be a very reverential and respectful person. He seemed to have humility. The real key was he could do a one-minute anthem and he could do a two-minute anthem.”

After Miller’s inaugural performance, late Owner Art Modell told one of his sons that he wanted Miller to sing it all the time. “He said, ‘If you go to a restaurant and you like the food, you keep going back,’” Miller recalled.

So Miller has sung and sung and sung, delighting Ravens fans close to 200 times over the years. He’s only missed a handful of games because of guest singers, and once when he got stuck abroad.

Miller’s greatest attribute may be his dependability.

He delivers a beautiful, yet commanding rendition of the song every time. He doesn’t add a whole lot of jazz, appealing to star-spangled purists of the world.

Miller’s style has changed a bit over the years, however. At one point, Art’s son, John, asked him if he could “loosen it up a bit.” Miller didn’t mind. But he’s come back a bit to a more traditional version of the song while still giving it his usual gusto.

“For me, it’s supposed to be a very big sound,” he said. “I take great joy in rendering it that way.”

Miller not only hits the incredibly difficult song time after time, but he also does it within very strict time requirements. The Ravens would be fined if the anthem isn’t finished before TV returns from commercial break. So Miller has often had to speed it up on the fly.

One of his fondest memories is from a few years ago when a scheduled flyover was late arriving. He had to hold a final note for about 30 seconds.

“I think his eyes were crossed,” joked Megan Collins, who has had the job of alerting Miller of how much time he has. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, he’s going to run out of breath.’ He held it. It was a sight to behold, that’s for sure.”

Fans have heard Miller for 18 years and still erupt in huge applause when he finishes. They recognize him around town and he’s part of local sports trivia. When the Ravens announced this would be his last performance, one fan asked whether Miller would be inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor.

“People say I’ve become a hometown favorite and I guess it is true,” Miller said. “The fans have been amazing.”

Miller still gets chills from the fans and the song when he performs.

“It’s so magical and mystical. It’s so moving,” Miller said of the song, which was written by Francis Scott Key at Fort McHenry in Baltimore during the War of 1812.

“Although I’ve done it so many times, you can’t rest on what you did and how you felt the last time. You’ve got to make each one meaningful and count each time.”

Now, as Miller prepares for his final performance, he’s a bit emotional.

He’ll also sing at halftime for the first time, belting out his rendition of “Let It Snow.” But his national anthem will be one to treasure.

“Wow. Bittersweet. Bittersweet,” Miller said. “I’m already there mentally; I’m just waiting for the moment. I’ve already had to say goodbye to several entities in the community, and this will probably be the last one.”